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Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm RebornLetter from the Producer Live #2

November 3rd, 2011 by Tony Garsow

Late tonight (and just under two hours as of this posting), Final Fantasy XIV director/producer Naoki Yoshida will address fans in a new live video episode of Letter From the Producer. On tap for discussion are the current changes patch 1.19 has brought to the game as well as the forthcoming 1.20 patch and what players can expect. To tune in, you can watch the video below or directly on YouTube.

Q: In regards to starting to charge a subscription fee, could you tell us about the reasoning behind starting now?

A: As I mentioned in the previous LIVE, our stance about being 50% complete has not changed. Though we have been able to gradually implement FF-related content, I still think that there is a lot that has not yet been completed, such as a lack of player search and an auction house. With patch 1.20, we will be introducing the player search and auction house, so I made the call as a producer to start billing at this time.

Q: What type of data will be carried over into the 2.0 version?

A: Levels, character data, and achievements. There will be two exceptions, though. The progress of some quests may be rolled back. Also, some items will be moved from your item list to an NPC, as bag size may go back to 100. Don’t worry. Everything will be saved!

Q: Will data only be carried over if you’re a paying player?

A: The data of those who aren’t paying will also be carried over to 2.0. Don’t worry!

Q: Will it be possible to play by using a keyboard only setup?

A: We will make it possible to fully customize your controls with keybinds, so it will be possible to use the keyboard only as a means of playing if you wish.

Q: When will the bazaar problem (being forced to stop walking when looking) be fixed?

A: This will be addressed with the new server setup. Also any other issues with server access is required will be fixed with new server, too.

Q: It seems like with FFXIV 2.0, you will be changing the game engine and changing other core aspects of the game, but will the movements and what not be as laggy as the current client? Depending on the conditions, we need to customize our PCs so I am curious.

A: The main purpose in changing out the graphics engine is to allow for a large amount of characters to be displayed in an MMORPG. Due to this, after switching, it will be possible to display a lot more characters than currently. Also, we are also making it possible to change the setting on your PC, so there should not be lag.

Q: What was that crown looking graphic the character was wearing?

A: It’s an achievement reward coming for 1.20. The gold looking one will be harder to get. Hope you’re all looking forward to 1.20!

Q: Will any kind of things be implemented so we can change the equipment on our chocobos?

A: Actually, we have already decided on some armor from each of the three city-states. If you are curious how you can obtain it, think along the lines of how you obtained your personal chocobo…

Q: I have a question for you Yoshi-P. What are those photos on the wall below the world clocks? I don’t recall seeing them in the previous LIVE broadcast.

A: These are actually pictures I took at each office when I visited the four regional Square Enix headquarters. You can’t see it in this broadcast, but there are also pictures from my interviews on another wall!

A: Yes, especially with regards to the Primal battles. We’re considering a system along the lines of need or greed. In the mean time, I’m thinking about other solutions to help people who tried many times, too. Please wait a bit and we’ll give you some more details.

Q: Will there be any kind of special item given to players that start subscribing now and keep playing through 2.0?

A: In addition to the achievement that will be related to the Seventh Umbral Era, we are thinking about giving players a special mount… (Showed some early test footage of characters riding enemies like Ahriman, Drakes, and Goobues!)

Q: It wasn’t listed on the documentation for 2.0, but what’s the status of the jump feature?

A: Since we are revamping the maps for 2.0, we need to take time to check things once we implement jump, and we are currently testing this with aims to implement it for 2.0. In regards to swimming, we need to think about raids and other content, so it will be planned for some time after 2.0. (Yoshida also showed off some early test footage of characters jumping, saying it’s still early in development.)

Q: Will you add in some just-for-fun minigames like the ones from the Gold Saucer in FFVII, or card games like the Triple Triad in FFVIII be added?

A: Although not included in the 2.0 document, there are plans for adding minigames like the ones from the Gold Saucer. We are thinking of adding them as the next phase for entertainment after housing is introduced! As for card games, it will be important to go for both the entertainment value and reward aspect of the games. They are being considered and if a good plan comes up, we would definitely like to go for it.

Q: Will you be able to swim in the future?

A: When looking at the current mount system plan, it may look hard. Internally, everyone on the team is still debating it. As for swimming while on a mount, it may end up as something like walking on water. We’ll see how it develops as we go.

Q: Will there equipment with special magic-type of effects on them? Or spells like Regen in the future?

A: Yes, these are definitely on the way and planned for 2.0.

Q: I have a ton of guild tokens that I can’t use currently. Will there be any opportunities to trade these for equipment in the future?

A: As we are currently adjusting classes for 1.20, we will change to a system where you learn abilities as you level up. With this change, opportunities to use guild tokens will no longer exist, so we are currently looking into whether it would be better to make it possible to exchange them for gil or a system where you can trade them to the guild.

We will solidify what we end up doing for 1.20. We’ll be sure to tell you once we have decided so we can hear your feedback!

Q: I’m having trouble obtaining company seals. Do you have plans to increase the amount obtainable or increase the ways you can obtain them?

A: In 1.20 we will be adding higher tier caravan defense and company leves. We will not be increasing the amount you can obtain at one time, but we plan on increasing the areas where you can obtain them, therefore making it easier to collect.

Q: In 2.0 will the head and face have separate slots so that we can simultaneously equip a hat and glasses? Also, I would like to be able to equip a cape as shoulder equipment and carry two weapons at once or be able to grip a weapon with either right of left hands.

A: It is difficult to allow for the simultaneous equipment of both hat and glasses from a technical perspective, but we are considering it so this does not mean that it will never come in the future. As for equipping a cape, this will all depend on how we can compromise on its animation quality. But it will be quite difficult if we were to make it match the graphical quality of FFXIV. As for gripping a weapon with either hands, we are considering to allow the handling of weapons to be switched between hands to increase the depth to battles.

Q: Will you make it possible to display NPC names in English? It’s difficult to communicate sometimes with English speaking players due to the localized names.

A: Yes, with 2.0, we are thinking about doing so.

Q: Do you have any plans to implement artifact armor/tools for crafter/gatherer classes?

A: Currently for FFXIV, there really isn’t such thing as “artifact”, but I guess it depends on the definition. There are class artifacts, so we are planning for class specific equipment including achievement-related items. We would like to make items so that they affect the items that gatherers obtain, and for crafters it will affect what they make.

Q: Tell me more about Job system. Will it be like gladiator turns into a paladin and then they change the way they fight?

A: For example, as for the paladin job, it requires certain things such as having gladiator around level 30 and then you’ll need to clear a quest. You will then advance the job through quests, instead of leveling them independently.

Q: When is the smart phone app for FFXIV coming?

A: As we are developing the 2.0 sever, we wanted to make sure that external access will be possible (such as from an smart phone). For example, to allow players to organize items in their bags or retainers via their smart phone, check the markets, and play the chocobo farm as I mentioned earlier. But this will be half a year after 2.0 goes live.

Q: We are dying to know which class gets which job… White mage and black mage, which is conjurer and which is thaumaturge?

A: Conjurer is the white mage and thaumaturge is the black mage.

Q: Achievement-related weapons look so good. What will happen to the crafter HQs? Will the HQ from the crafters be not so good anymore?

A: HQ from crafters will be changed, too. If you compare achievement ones with HQ ones, may be achievement ones will be better. However, there is a possibility that HQ one will be stronger after materia are applied. So HQ items from crafters will continue to be important.

Q: What sort of player-made add-ons are you exactly thinking of? Also, how much game data will we be able to look at?

A: I’m thinking of add-ons on the UI. For example, changing the way it looks, adding graphs to show enemy enmity, or adding more windows, things that players make that actually interact with the game. Fundamentally speaking, we are trying to allow for the maximum amount of data to be used. As for the PS3 version, the dev team will be updating it to keep up with the PC version.

Q: Will a free trial version be available at the time of the 2.0 launch?

A: It won’t be in sync with the 2.0 launch, but we do have plans to make a free trial version available afterwards. Countermeasures against RMTers will also be worked on at an early stage as well.

Q: All of the dungeons will become instanced, but does this mean all public dungeons disappear?

A: For the ones that require a certain amount of people, I think it would be better to be closed off, so please assume that this means they will basically disappear. However, there will still be beastman strongholds in the open fields.

Q: Yoshi-P! I want to ride MagiTek Armor!

A: In the past we had a survey on the forums and magitech armor was the number one choice from players! I’d like to add this after 2.0. (Showed off an early design sketch)

Q: Will new players after the launch of 2.0 be able to play the current scenario? Also, how about the Instance raid? How about the Primal battles? Also, you said something along the lines of “fights with current adventures will be engraved.” What does that mean?

A: As for the main scenario, yes it will be possible, as it will be different from Seventh Umbral Era. As for the Primal battles, it will be taking place in Seventh Umbral era, so it may be only possible to challenge now. Anyway, in order to play everything you have to play as it goes on now.

Q: Will dragoons have a wyvern?

A: After 2.0, we are thinking about having them use their breath ability when you jump. However, as I answered in the interviews, I think you all really would like to fight alongside a wyvern pet. With a dragoon having a pet wyvern, battle balance will be necessary for both master and pet, and as a result the dragoon itself might become a bit weaker. We would like to hear your feedback on this before we make any final decisions.

Q: On the schedule “player room and private area” is TBD. What is that about?

A: As for the housing, I think it is important that an MMO player has his/her own private area. We are still planning this but something like having bonus when logging out from the private area would be nice. The resource work for them is done so implementation may not be too far away.

Q: Will the level cap be removed before the release of 2.0?

A: This is not planned until patch 1.21. It won’t be good to have a huge gap in players’ level until 2.0 goes live, so we would like to carefully weigh our options. xivll

yay, can’t wait.
I’m so glad it’s not as late this time, I can actually watch it. ha

Cody

Dang, jump looked..well, interesting. Everything looked awesome though, I was hoping to hear some more info on class balance, but then again I dont think the translation is done with.

gmoyajp

am not to happy about conjurer being the whitemage but then again it was really ah healer class and THM a BLM well am glad i level both to 50!

anyways riding magitek armor would be sick!!

look forward to battling with my choocbo an adding armor to him and so on ^ ^

dragoon gotta have it wyvern! i want Some SMN news!

Cody

@Gmoyajp
Yea, but it was obvious CNJ was going WHM when 1.18 released. As long as the job quests in terms of lore make since, then I’ll be happy, and after the class adjustments it will probably make even more since.

I don’t think Dragoon should have a wyvern. FFXI was the only Dragoon design with a pet, and FFXIV is even more about the idea of “slaying” dragons than it is using them. Aside from that, the balance issues are going to make people more frustrated in the long run, than if they just kept it the way it now(no wyvern). I did like that they said using certain skills would briefly summon a dragon to use breath moves, maybe during a jump action.

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